Organic Food and Agriculture

Triodos Investment Management sees the need and the opportunity to support businesses that play an important part in the transition towards sustainable lifestyles and a sustainable economy. European organic and sustainable consumer businesses are growing and reaching mature stages in their development. However, apart from venture capital and angel investors the capital markets are mostly characterised by a short term-focus which does not fit the long-term view of mission-driven companies. The Triodos Organic Growth Fund, established in January 2014 as a Sub-Fund of Triodos SICAV II, aims to fill this gap.

The Triodos Organic Growth Fund is an evergreen fund that focuses on providing long-term and mission-aligned private equity to leading, mature companies from the fast growing organic food and sustainable consumer products sector.

In 2016, Triodos Organic Growth Fund increased its volume of assets under management by 24.7% to EUR 40.6 million.

In 2016, Triodos Organic Growth Fund has taken a minority stake in DO-IT, a leading company that buys organic products from farmers – predominantly in developing countries – and sells them throughout Europe. The long-term investment from Triodos Organic Growth Fund supports DO-IT in its ambition to considerably increase the offering in organic products and improve the position of local farmers. Since 1991, the company has built relationships with 170 suppliers in more than 20 countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America, from which DO-IT buys over 850 products; from nuts, quinoa, dried fruit and sugar, to rice and olive oil.

In addition, Triodos Groenfonds financed approximately 8,800 hectares of organic farmland across Europe in 2016. This organically managed land could produce the equivalent of 7.1 million meals, or enough food to provide a sustainable diet for approximately 6,500 people.